October 15 : This Day in Music History Deaths

1964 : Cole Porter, American composer and songwriter, born , died of kidney failure in Santa Monica, California, at the age of 73.
See also: This Day in Music History Births (9 June 1891)

1980 : Bobby Lester, Americab Doo-Wop and R&B singer, born Robert Lester, died of lung cancer at the age of 50. (The Flamingos, The Moonglows)
See also: This Day in Music History Births (13 January 1930)

1996 : Ralph Middlebrooks, American trumpeter and trombonist, died in Dayton, Ohio, at the age of 57. "Rock Obituaries - Knocking On Heaven's Door", by Nick Talevski, states that Ralph died on 13 October, while many sources state he died in November. (The Ohio Players)
See also: This Day in Music History Births (20 August 1939)

1999 : Terry Gilkyson, American folk singer, composer and lyricist, born Hamilton H. Gilkyson III, died suffering an aneurism while visiting his daughters in Austin, Texas, at the age of 83. (The Easy Riders)
See also: This Day in Music History Births (17 June 1916)